Lenoir Community College President Dr. Rusty Hunt, left, and UNCW Chancellor Jose Sartarelli signed a Pathway to Excellence Guaranteed Admission Agreement on May 1. Individuals attending the signing are, from left, Associate Director of Transfer Admission at UNCW Sherry Hazelwood; LCC Dean of Arts and Sciences Dr. Timothy Maddox; LCC Vice President of Instruction and Student Services Dr. Deborah Grimes; UNCW Director of Admissions Marcio Moreno; and Associate Vice Challencelor and Dean for UNCW Undergraduate Studies Paul Townend. Photo by Jeff Janowski

UNCW Chancellor Jose V. Sartarelli and Lenoir Community College President Rusty Hunt signed a Pathway to Excellence Guaranteed Admission Agreement on May 1. It is the 25th partnership between UNCW and a school in the North Carolina Community College System.

UNCW’s Pathway to Excellence Program provides any qualifying LCC student completing an associate of arts, associate of science or an associate of engineering degree guaranteed admission to UNCW. Those who have a 3.0 grade point average or higher may be eligible for a merit scholarship. The competitive scholarships are one-year awards ranging between $1,500 and $3,000, divided equally across fall and spring semesters. 

“We are excited that the Pathway to Excellence Guaranteed Admission Agreement might encourage more students from Lenoir Community College to apply and be admitted to UNCW,” Sartarelli said. “I think this partnership will take the relationship between UNCW and Lenoir Community College to a higher level.”

Hunt said UNCW’s Pathway to Excellence Program creates a great opportunity for students. The partnership allows the community college to expand its LCC Guarantee Program, which provides scholarships for high school students who have graduated with a 3.0 GPA and enrolled as a full-time student at LCC. The student must maintain a 3.0 GPA while attending LCC.

“We are an affordable option for them the first two years, but if they want to pursue a four-year degree, we want to encourage them to do that,” Hunt said. “We know that this partnership will help improve their job prospects and their family situation. We are really appreciative of this partnership.”

The Pathway to Excellence Program is an effort to foster collaborative partnerships and better prepare students for post-graduate success, both key priorities of the university’s strategic plan.

The program is also part of the university’s ongoing effort to increase enrollment opportunities for students in rural communities. To qualify for admission, students must meet specific GPA and coursework standards. Learn more at uncw.edu/pathwaytoexcellence.

— Venita Jenkins/UNCW